Attachment for automobiles



Jan. 8, 1929.

A. N. BURCKHART ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES Original Filed Aug. 15, 1925 INVENTOR.

limos Nfluficnmm'r Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED- raaosr A FFIC.

AMOS N. IBURCKHART, OF AKRON, OHIO.

ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed August 15, 1925, Serial No. 50,393. Renewed May 16, 1928 In Ford cars the front of the car is supported upon a spring which is secured to the front axle by a bolt. Radius rods extend,

from the chassis to the front axle. It has been found that the objectionable vibration of the wheels is caused by movement permitted by the radius rods, and it has been proposed, heretofore, to correct this tendency by rigidly connecting the front axle and the radius rods by brackets extending from one to the other and rigidly clamped to both. While this arrangement cures many of the defects, it is not entirely satisfactory, for should a wheel be given a violent twisting, as, for example, in dropping into a rut or going over a curb, the bracket will slip upon the radius rod and place a strain upon the axle, and as the bracket fails to reassume its correct position whenthe strain is removed, this may result in a permanent non-alignment of the wheels.

By my present invention I propose to retain the advantages of the former construction, but provide against straining the axle by substituting for the rigid, a semi-rigid connection between the front axle and the radius rods. The constructionherein illustrated and described will cure the tendency of the wheels to wabble, but will accommodate itself to sudden jars such as have been described. V

In the'drawings is shown one form of the invention in whichv is illustrated a single at tachment on one side of the machine, it being understood that the construction is duplicated on the opposite side of the machine. It

v will also be appreciated that exact conformity with the showing is not essential to the successful operation of the invention and changes and modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the claims.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the front axle (in section) and a radius rod with the improved stabilizer attached thereto;

Figure 2 is an end view; 7

Figures 3 and 4 are details and Figure 5 is a fragmentary, inner side elevation of the axle clamping device.

The numeral 1 represents the usual front of the clamp .movement in they other direction axle which is of the I-beam type having a front and rear flange 2 and 3, respectively. The radius rod is indicated by the numeral 4, being secured to theiaxle by abolt 5 which passes through the flattened end 6 of the rod, a shoulder 7 being provided as is usual.

The attachment comprises a bracket 10 adapted to be secured to them-achine across the space between the front axle and the radius rod, the bracket being formed with a semi-circular sleeve 11 adapted to surround half of the radius rod and with an angular extension 12, the outer end of which is forked so as to pass over the flange 3. It will be observed that the lower jaw 13 of the fork is formed with a curved or bulged face 15 which constitutes a fulcrum for the bracket about which it may rock in one direction, rocking being permitted by transversely bulging the jaws as indicated at 16 (Figure 4).

The radius rod is enclosed on its lower side by a semi-circular sleeve 17 which is secured to the sleeve 11 by bolts 18, and this sleeve 17 is provided with a tongue 19 having a proj ecting end 20 which passes over the shoulder 7 and thereby prevents longitudinal shifting of the bracket upon the radius rod.

The bracket is clamped to the axle by a forked lug 22 which is received over the bolt 23, the head of which is received in a recess in the bracket behind a shoulder 24, a nut 25 holding the device in assembled position.

It will be noted that slight rocking action is permitted aboutthe compound fulcrum 15-16, which allows the bracket to give slightly when the front wheel is subjected to extreme twisting movement such as encountered by going into or over' a high spot in the road, the tongue 19 preventing any shifting of the sleeve upon the radius rod. In this manner a semi-rigid connection is obtained, which effectually prevents the Wabnot permanently front axle. 7 What is claimed is:

aifectthe alignment of the 1. In combination with an automobile front axle and radius rod, a bracket connected to said elements, said bracket being rigidly secured to one of said elements but provided with a fulcrum bearing against the other means to prevent longitudinal movement about which the bracket may rock to permit thereon, a double fulcrum upon the bracket slight transverse relative rocking of the axle bearingiupon the axle about which the bracket 10 and radius rod. may rock, and means to 'clamp'the bracket in 2. In combination With an automobile: front position.

axle and a radius rod, a bracket clamped a about the radius rod and provided with AMOS N. BURCKHART. 

